BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION TEAM

FOR ALL EMERGENCIES,
CALL 911
(9-911 FROM ON-CAMPUS PHONE)

BIT Referral FAQ

What do I do if I know a student who may need to be referred to the BIT process?

1. If you feel there is an immediate threat, call 911 or the Lancaster City Police at 283-3313.
2. To make a referral, use the Incident Report button at the top of the BIT webpages. You will be asked for basic information about the student, how to contact you (in case the BIT committee has follow-up questions) and for a description of the incident or behaviors that prompted the referral.
3. You are the Behavioral Intervention Team’s best resource because you are familiar with the student. If you are comfortable doing so, tell the student that you are concerned and ask if he/she is okay. In many cases students will indicate that he/she may need help and you can refer them to Counseling Services.

Who can make a BIT referral?

Anyone who feels a student is at risk of self-harm and/or harm to the community can make a BIT referral.  Referral sources include students, parents, faculty, staff, and other community members.

What happens after I make the referral?

A team of members from Counseling Services, the Office of Student Affairs, Student Health Services, and Law Enforcement and Security use the information provided to make a decision about whether the student should be assessed by Counseling Services.  Reporting the concerns you have is the most critical step in this process.

Refer to BIT's Contacts to find information and explanations on how these departments can assist you in making a referral.

What happens to the student in the BIT process?

If the team determines the student is appropriate for the BIT process, he/she will be contacted and instructed to undergo an assessment at Counseling Services. The type of assessment is dependent on the behavior, and it may involve other members of the BIT team, such as Law Enforcement or Student Affairs.  You do not have to make the determination regarding how the student will be assessed.  The BIT will do it for you. The most critical step is that you report your concerns at http://usclancaster.sc.edu/BIT. If another campus resource is more appropriate, the BIT will refer the student to those resources as needed.

Typically, behaviors that pose an immediate or imminent  threat to safety or that cause a significant community disruption qualify as BIT, while students who experience other, less urgent mental health issues are appropriate referrals to Counseling Services.

NOTE: Never promise confidentiality to student(s) during initial referral.